[Just bought the Meridian Collection edition of The Red Violin (they changed the cover).]
You are right.
I listened to the commentary, and the writer and director overtly open the question as to WHICH violin he stole, the copy or the real one.
They say he stole the real one to free it. (They go on to cite many of the reasons DaTo and others suggest.)
Touche,
Scott V.
P.S. Being a contrarian is always fun, though not always "right."
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So does this mean he cursed his daughter?
Rachel
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What he said (and more). The director and the writer add more context/summary wrapping up the scene and the video on the new DVD.
No, he wasn't cursing his daughter. He was giving back the innocence to the violin to be in the hands of a child. The violin was being made by Buscetti to give to his and Anna's son. Because of the unfulfilled promise, it was cursed until it landed back in the hands of a child. Moritz's daughter wouldn't want it for greed or personal gain. She would want it because it came from her father as a gift. Therefore, she would cherish it always.
"Sometimes my ruminations are too confusing for someone not inside my head." -Anon
Then why did the orphan die playing it? The orphan was innocent and the violin killed the child.
I think the violin was cursed. It brought tragedy to all who owned it.
And it had a deathly fascination to all, an obsession to possess it.
I think Moritz resisted the siren lure of the violin. I think he let Ruselsky buy it to end the curse. And gave his daughter the copy, thus avoiding cursing her. Even a very good copy would be very good for his daughter to play. Then if she fulfills her promise as a violinist, some day she'll grow up and buy a finer instrument. One that is not cursed.
I think the fact that Moritz is not run over by the car proves he is not in possession of the red violin.
Then why did the orphan die playing it? The orphan was innocent and the violin killed the child.
I think the violin was cursed. It brought tragedy to all who owned it.
And it had a deathly fascination to all, an obsession to possess it.
I think Moritz resisted the siren lure of the violin. I think he let Ruselsky buy it to end the curse. And gave his daughter the copy, thus avoiding cursing her. Even a very good copy would be very good for his daughter to play. Then if she fulfills her promise as a violinist, some day she'll grow up and buy a finer instrument. One that is not cursed.
I think the fact that Moritz is not run over by the car proves he is not in possession of the red violin.
When did Poussin agree to let the prince have the violin? I remember the prince asking, then Poussin and the boy looking at each other, and Poussin answering, "He's very attached to it." But I don't remember any agreement to let the prince have it.
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I don't think Poussin actually agreed to allow the prince to have it, but that the fear of losing it is what caused Kaspar to finally have his heart give way. But given how very opportunistic Poussin was, I wouldn't have doubted that he would have sold the violin to the Prince in order to further himself. And besides, if the Prince said he wanted it, Poussin would have had to hand it over there and then. Poussin couldn't have said no. It would have been out of his hands if the Prince had reached out and taken it from Kaspar's little hands. Back then, royalty was next to God. One didn't dare say no. And if I can recall earlier in the piece, Poussin was complaining about how much it cost to feed Kaspar. The money he and his wife would have gotten from the Prince's buying the instrument would have taken care of the family for years to come.
"Sometimes my ruminations are too confusing for someone not inside my head." -Anon
Agreed...The fortune teller clearly states that 'you are under a curse' (spoken to Anna and therefore the violin, since Anna's soul is with the violin). Each story that we see ends in some sort of tragedy that is a result of someone's obsession with the violin. You see Moritz fall under its spell as the collector plays it in the private viewing...Previously he had a fascination with it - always wanted to find it, but the full 'posession' happens at that point. I think that the curse will continue and he is setting his daughter up for all sorts of trauma. Poor kid.
Theft is theft. It's illegal and it's a crime. It's especially despicable when the act is carried out by an educated person who uses his expertise and inside information while being in the position of trust to totally abuse that privilege and purposely steal a precious antiquities.
Some people on here rationalized this felony act with the fact that the violin has been changing hands in rather unconventional ways thru out centuries. Well, that doesn't mean it's okay to rob it again. Isn't it an obtuse reasoning? Just like, they stole it before, so it's okay for me to steal it now.
Others had justified the crime by saying that the bidders were only recognized the violin for its historical and monetary values, therefore, they don't deserve to own it, and it should go to Morritz. Well, how can we be sure that is the case with all the bidders? The Chinese characters played by Sandra Oh and her bespectacled male companion did not seem to fit this assumption. But then, regardless of their intentions, these bidders had the right to bid and took possession of the successful bidding items... unless, the auction was limited to bidders with specified intentions. I don't see Morritz's intention is any more noble, since he's going to give it to his child as a Christmas present. Seems like a very selfish act to me.
Deceiving people into buying something that is not as advertised is wrong. Does anyone in here (or even Morritz) think it's okay to spend close to two million dollars for a 17th century violin, only it turns out to be a copy? Those who supported the movie's ending are exactly those that think it's okay to be deceived in that way! Don't go cry wolf when it really happens to you.
The movie was great, until the deceitful criminal act of Morritz at the end really ruined it for me.
Careful you don't fall off that [high] horse of yours ….
shareIt is not a "curse", it is a life lived by "other" means.
shareWhy would he steal the copy he bought with his own money?
shareOy! Don't get us started again!
shareit is obvious he stole the real one. why would anyone think otherwise?
shareTruly !!!
It was clear to me the first time I watched it back in the day - looking at the comment board today with all these "alternatives" is exhausting and only takes away from the film rather than add. But then again, I guess some people need to be hit over the head with a hammer to "get it".
Oye !!
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